In 1958, guitarist and vocalist John Herald formed The Greenbriar Boys, along with Bob Yellin (banjo) and Eric Weissberg[2][3] (fiddle, mandolin, banjo).[4] Weissberg was soon replaced by Paul Prestopino,[5] who, in turn was later replaced by Ralph Rinzler (mandolin) to form their most successful combination.[4] The trio often played the Greenwich Village scene, but were good enough to be the first northern group to win the Union Grove Fiddlers' Convention competition,[4] where Yellin also took top honors for banjo.[6]
They were credited as guest artists on two tracks from Joan Baez's 1961 album Joan Baez, Vol. 2.[4][7] In 1962, they released their first (eponymous) album on Vanguard Records.[4][8] Three more albums followed: Dián and the Greenbriar Boys in 1963 for Elektra (with Dián James, died 18 May 2006),[9]Ragged but Right! in 1964, and Better Late Than Never in 1966 (with the additions of mandolinist/vocalist Frank Wakefield, who replaced Rinzler, and fiddler, Jim Buchanan).[4] The 1966 album included the first recorded version of Mike Nesmith's "Different Drum",[10] which was recorded again in 1967 by the Stone Poneys, and became a hit.[10][11] This album was also the source for a subsequent Stone Poneys single, "Up To My Neck In High Muddy Water," with author credit to Wakefield, Herald, and Yellin.[10]
By the last album, Rinzler had left to become director of the folklife area at the Smithsonian Institution which now bears his name. Rinzler was replaced in 1965 by the Tennessee-born mandolin virtuoso Frank Wakefield who, at the age of 31, was already a leading figure in bluegrass music, having performed since the age of 16 with such bluegrass stars as The Stanley Brothers, Jimmy Martin and Red Allen and the Kentuckians. He had made a Carnegie Hall appearance with Allen, had done guest spots on various TV programs and had appeared on dozens of records, including the first-ever all-bluegrass album produced by Smithsonian-Folkways Records. Wakefield's arrival therefore brought some welcome southern appalachian authenticity to what until then was a northern, urban and folkish-oriented group. Over the next four years, the close friendship and musical collaboration between John Herald, Bob Yellin, Jim Buchanan and Frank Wakefieldb resulted in some successful recordings and national television appearances. In addition to his mandolin playing, Wakefield's southern-accented lead and harmony vocals lent a distinctively rural sound to the Greenbriar Boys. Wakefield was also responsible for bringing young Kentucky-born guitarist and lead singer, Joe Isaacs, into the group by 1968. The Greenbriar Boys disbanded in 1970 as Wakefield launched what was to become a successful solo career. The Greenbriar Boys reunited occasionally in later years. John Herald released albums with The John Herald Band and a solo album, in 2000, Roll On John, before committing suicide in 2005.[12]
^Friskics-Warren, Bill (2020-03-23). "Eric Weissberg, 'Dueling Banjos' Musician, Dies at 80". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-09-21.
^Thompson, Richard (2020-03-24). "Eric Weissberg passes". Bluegrass Today. Retrieved 2023-09-21.
^Smith, Richard D. (2023-07-20). "Paul Prestopino passes". Bluegrass Today. Retrieved 2023-09-21.
^Harris, Craig. "The Greenbriar Boys - Biography - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved January 17, 2010.
^Zimmerman, Lee (2020-04-22). "Bluegrass Beyond Borders: Red Brick Boys plays bluegrass in Russia". Bluegrass Today. Retrieved 2023-09-21.
^"The Greenbriar Boys Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved 2023-09-21.
^"Obit: Blue Grass Singer Dián James (18 May 06)". Mudcat Café Music Foundation, Inc.
^ abc"Better Late Than Never - The Greenbriar Boys | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
^Barilla, Lucille (2022-11-01). "'The Monkees' Didn't Believe Mike Nesmith Wrote 'Different Drum'". Showbiz Cheat Sheet. Retrieved 2023-09-21.
^Sisario, Ben (23 July 2005). "John Herald, 65, Folk Singer and Guitarist, Dies". The New York Times.
External linksedit
Richie Unterberger, Liner notes for reissue of Dian & the Greenbriar Boys
November 30, 2023
greenbriar, boys, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, august, 2. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources The Greenbriar Boys news newspapers books scholar JSTOR August 2021 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Greenbriar Boys were an American northern bluegrass music group who first got together in jam sessions in New York s Washington Square Park The group disbanded in 1970 1 The Greenbriar BoysOriginNew York City New York U S GenresFolk bluegrassYears active1958 1970LabelsVanguardPast membersJohn HeraldBob YellinEric WeissbergPaul PrestopinoRalph RinzlerFrank WakefieldJim Buchanan Joe Isaacs Contents 1 Biography 2 Discography 2 1 Studio albums 2 2 Compilations 3 References 4 External linksBiography editIn 1958 guitarist and vocalist John Herald formed The Greenbriar Boys along with Bob Yellin banjo and Eric Weissberg 2 3 fiddle mandolin banjo 4 Weissberg was soon replaced by Paul Prestopino 5 who in turn was later replaced by Ralph Rinzler mandolin to form their most successful combination 4 The trio often played the Greenwich Village scene but were good enough to be the first northern group to win the Union Grove Fiddlers Convention competition 4 where Yellin also took top honors for banjo 6 They were credited as guest artists on two tracks from Joan Baez s 1961 album Joan Baez Vol 2 4 7 In 1962 they released their first eponymous album on Vanguard Records 4 8 Three more albums followed Dian and the Greenbriar Boys in 1963 for Elektra with Dian James died 18 May 2006 9 Ragged but Right in 1964 and Better Late Than Never in 1966 with the additions of mandolinist vocalist Frank Wakefield who replaced Rinzler and fiddler Jim Buchanan 4 The 1966 album included the first recorded version of Mike Nesmith s Different Drum 10 which was recorded again in 1967 by the Stone Poneys and became a hit 10 11 This album was also the source for a subsequent Stone Poneys single Up To My Neck In High Muddy Water with author credit to Wakefield Herald and Yellin 10 By the last album Rinzler had left to become director of the folklife area at the Smithsonian Institution which now bears his name Rinzler was replaced in 1965 by the Tennessee born mandolin virtuoso Frank Wakefield who at the age of 31 was already a leading figure in bluegrass music having performed since the age of 16 with such bluegrass stars as The Stanley Brothers Jimmy Martin and Red Allen and the Kentuckians He had made a Carnegie Hall appearance with Allen had done guest spots on various TV programs and had appeared on dozens of records including the first ever all bluegrass album produced by Smithsonian Folkways Records Wakefield s arrival therefore brought some welcome southern appalachian authenticity to what until then was a northern urban and folkish oriented group Over the next four years the close friendship and musical collaboration between John Herald Bob Yellin Jim Buchanan and Frank Wakefieldb resulted in some successful recordings and national television appearances In addition to his mandolin playing Wakefield s southern accented lead and harmony vocals lent a distinctively rural sound to the Greenbriar Boys Wakefield was also responsible for bringing young Kentucky born guitarist and lead singer Joe Isaacs into the group by 1968 The Greenbriar Boys disbanded in 1970 as Wakefield launched what was to become a successful solo career The Greenbriar Boys reunited occasionally in later years John Herald released albums with The John Herald Band and a solo album in 2000 Roll On John before committing suicide in 2005 12 Discography editStudio albums edit 1962 The Greenbriar Boys Vanguard 1963 Dian amp the Greenbriar Boys Elektra 1964 Ragged But Right Vanguard 1966 Better Late Than Never Vanguard Compilations edit 1986 The Best of the Greenbriar Boys Vanguard 2002 Best of the Vanguard Years Vanguard 2003 Big Apple Bluegrass Vanguard References edit The Greenbriar Boys Discogs Retrieved 2023 09 21 Friskics Warren Bill 2020 03 23 Eric Weissberg Dueling Banjos Musician Dies at 80 The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved 2023 09 21 Thompson Richard 2020 03 24 Eric Weissberg passes Bluegrass Today Retrieved 2023 09 21 a b c d e f Colin Larkin ed 1993 The Guinness Who s Who of Country Music First ed Guinness Publishing pp 165 7 ISBN 0 85112 726 6 Smith Richard D 2023 07 20 Paul Prestopino passes Bluegrass Today Retrieved 2023 09 21 Harris Craig The Greenbriar Boys Biography AllMusic AllMusic Retrieved January 17 2010 Zimmerman Lee 2020 04 22 Bluegrass Beyond Borders Red Brick Boys plays bluegrass in Russia Bluegrass Today Retrieved 2023 09 21 The Greenbriar Boys Biography Songs amp Albums AllMusic Retrieved 2023 09 21 Obit Blue Grass Singer Dian James 18 May 06 Mudcat Cafe Music Foundation Inc a b c Better Late Than Never The Greenbriar Boys Songs Reviews Credits AllMusic Retrieved August 7 2021 Barilla Lucille 2022 11 01 The Monkees Didn t Believe Mike Nesmith Wrote Different Drum Showbiz Cheat Sheet Retrieved 2023 09 21 Sisario Ben 23 July 2005 John Herald 65 Folk Singer and Guitarist Dies The New York Times External links editRichie Unterberger Liner notes for reissue of Dian amp the Greenbriar Boys Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Greenbriar Boys amp oldid 1177585162, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
